Count Ricardo on right track, says trainer

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HE FINISHED last at his first run in seven months and trainer Stephen Theodore is hardly confident of victory again this week but the Cranbourne trainer yesterday eased fears for Count Ricardo's supporters by claiming he is "exactly where I want him" as far as the spring cups were concerned.

Count Ricardo's impressive formline took a battering with a 16th of 16 in last Saturday's Bobbie Lewis Quality at Flemington in his first run since a wrenched joint sent him to the paddock in February, but Theodore said that the effort, where he was beaten 13.4 lengths by a quality sprint field, was what he had hoped to see.

"He was shockingly weighted (59 kilograms) alongside the likes of a group 1 winner of more than $2 million in Bomber Bill so he did pretty much exactly what I thought he'd do," Theodore said. "He's racing like a dour stayer and that's what I want from him."

In all seven previous runs at 1600 metres or further Count Ricardo has never missed a place, so Theodore knows that his stayer must show him something on Saturday when he backs the horse up in the group 2 weight-for-age Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley against the likes of champion Makybe Diva.

"It probably won't be until after the Underwood (Stakes) next week that he'll be getting to his top and Moonee Valley's not his go really, but over the longer trip, he'll be getting home, don't worry," Theodore said.

Champion Hawthorn footballer Shane Crawford, who owns part shares in several horses trained by Theodore, bought a small share in Count Ricardo over the winter. "He's been a fantastic supporter of the stable and I was more than happy to have him aboard," Theodore said.

He is yet to appoint a cups rider for Count Ricardo and said he was content for Matthew Allen to ride the horse until the cups as Allen cannot make the 52 kilograms the four-year-old will carry at Caulfield and Flemington.

■ Last season's premier jockey Nicholas Ryan returned from suspension with a win on Anna's Choice at his first ride back at the VRC meeting at Werribee yesterday.